giving thanks
When I arrived at school on Wednesday morning, I found two of my little ones waiting patiently on the steps of the school. The moment I saw their heads pop up and smiles grow across their face, I realized how much I had missed them these past few days.
We went to Tegucigalpa for a teachers conference and took a few days off of school. The conference was an incredible experience. I learned new techniques and fun math games. I spoke with new and experienced teachers about teaching in Honduras, teaching at a bilingual school and well, teaching in general. After a few days in Teguc, we headed to Zamarano to visit another bilingual school. We spent a couple days sharing ideas and resources with a wonderful group of teachers. I returned refreshed and renewed with lots of new ideas! But even more importantly, I returned so excited to see my students!
Thanksgiving day I spent in the classroom and even though this was a change of scenery from my usual Thanksgiving festivities, I knew it was exactly where I should be. When I briefly explained to my students what Thanksgiving was and told them about the big feast going on at my house, they oh so innocently asked, “Are you going to go?” When I informed them that I could make it, their caring and empathetic faces made me feel right at home.
In this season of giving thanks, being here in Honduras has opened my eyes to all I have to be thankful for. Every day I see people who live on so little, and I reminded of what is truly important in this life. Family, friends, love.
The true reminder I did have of Thanksgiving was the cooler weather. It has cooled down to low 70’s and a few of the students came to school clad in winter hats and gloves. Since our classrooms don’t actually have real windows, they kept them on all day. I spent the day in a skirt. I did wear a long-sleeve shirt though. A few students even requested a put “Snowy” up on our weather chart. These cooler mornings are the only ideas they have of this elusive snow. Funny how experience molds our perceptions.
Friends gathered on Thursday evening for a Thanksgiving feast with chicken (as a turkey could not be found) veggies and plantano bread. It wasn’t the traditional Thanksgiving meal, but as we all sat around on the floor and the hammocks, it was very clear, we all had a lot to be thankful for.
We went to Tegucigalpa for a teachers conference and took a few days off of school. The conference was an incredible experience. I learned new techniques and fun math games. I spoke with new and experienced teachers about teaching in Honduras, teaching at a bilingual school and well, teaching in general. After a few days in Teguc, we headed to Zamarano to visit another bilingual school. We spent a couple days sharing ideas and resources with a wonderful group of teachers. I returned refreshed and renewed with lots of new ideas! But even more importantly, I returned so excited to see my students!
Thanksgiving day I spent in the classroom and even though this was a change of scenery from my usual Thanksgiving festivities, I knew it was exactly where I should be. When I briefly explained to my students what Thanksgiving was and told them about the big feast going on at my house, they oh so innocently asked, “Are you going to go?” When I informed them that I could make it, their caring and empathetic faces made me feel right at home.
In this season of giving thanks, being here in Honduras has opened my eyes to all I have to be thankful for. Every day I see people who live on so little, and I reminded of what is truly important in this life. Family, friends, love.
The true reminder I did have of Thanksgiving was the cooler weather. It has cooled down to low 70’s and a few of the students came to school clad in winter hats and gloves. Since our classrooms don’t actually have real windows, they kept them on all day. I spent the day in a skirt. I did wear a long-sleeve shirt though. A few students even requested a put “Snowy” up on our weather chart. These cooler mornings are the only ideas they have of this elusive snow. Funny how experience molds our perceptions.
Friends gathered on Thursday evening for a Thanksgiving feast with chicken (as a turkey could not be found) veggies and plantano bread. It wasn’t the traditional Thanksgiving meal, but as we all sat around on the floor and the hammocks, it was very clear, we all had a lot to be thankful for.
posted by Anna | 9:31 PM
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